Martial law forces withdraw from parliament after nullification vote

Forces have completely withdrawn from South Korea's National Assembly building, the Speaker's office confirmed to local media early Wednesday morning. The withdrawal came shortly after the National Assembly voted unanimously to nullify President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, with all 190 lawmakers present voting in favor at 1:01 a.m. Wednesday. Earlier footage showed soldiers breaking windows to enter the main parliamentary floor. Forces were positioned at the main e

Dec. 4, 2024

Assembly passes motion to revoke martial law

The opposition-led Assembly on Wednesday passed the motion to revoke the emergency martial law declaration made by President Yoon Suk Yeol, with all 190 lawmakers that were present voting in favor. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik convened an emergency plenary session on Wednesday, few hours after the president declared martial law. According to Korean law, the president is required to lift the declaration if the National Assembly requests it after a majority vote.

Dec. 4, 2024

What you need to know about South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol and political turmoil

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law on Tuesday, marking the first use of such powers since the country ended military rule in the 1980s. Here’s what you need to know about Yoon, his political opponents and the state of Korean politics. Yoon's low support rating Yoon, 63, a conservative leader, has passed the midpoint of his single, five-year term with approval ratings hovering around 25 percent, among the lowest for a South Korean president. His adm

Dec. 4, 2024

Seoul mayor voices opposition against martial law

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon voiced his opposition to President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law late Tuesday. "I stand against martial law. The martial law declaration should be retracted," wrote Oh on his Facebook account. "As mayor, I will do everything in my power to preserve the daily lives of our citizens." According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government's office, Oh conducted a meeting with high-ranking city government officials late Tuesday and emphasized

Dec. 4, 2024

Political gatherings banned, press put under military control

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol late Tuesday imposed martial law in the country, barring all forms of political gatherings and placing press under control of the military. The martial law came into effect as of 11 p.m. Tuesday. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su, who was named the martial law commander, issued a martial law decree and said all political activities including those of the National Assembly are banned. All press is subject to martial law control and all activities that contri

Dec. 4, 2024

Order issued for medical professionals to resume duties within 48 hours

Under the decree issued by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su that went into effect as of 11 p.m. on Tuesday, all medical professionals must resume their duties within 48 hours Those affected include striking intern and resident doctors opposing the government's quota hike in medical school admissions or those who have walked out of their medical roles. The decree came nearly an hour after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law late Tuesday. Medical professionals who fail to comply

Dec. 4, 2024

Martial law command issues sweeping nationwide restrictions

The newly established martial law command, led by Four-Star General Park An-soo, issued its first comprehensive decree Tuesday at 11 p.m., implementing immediate nationwide restrictions. The martial law command's decree outlines extensive controls on civil and political activities. The first provision prohibits all political activities by the National Assembly, provincial assemblies and political parties. Political gatherings and demonstrations are also banned. A second measure bans activit

Dec. 4, 2024

Assembly vote could revoke martial law

President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a state of martial law late Tuesday night. However, it could be short-lived if the National Assembly, controlled by the opposition party, votes to revoke it. As soon as Yoon made the surprise move, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea swiftly mobilized to repeal the measure, although early reports said access to the National Assembly building was physically blocked under the emergency decree. Chairman Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party issued an emerg

Dec. 4, 2024

Government Complex Sejong closed after martial law declared

All doors to Government Complex Sejong have been closed following South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s emergency martial law declaration late Tuesday. “Starting from 11:40 p.m., all incoming vehicles (to Government Complex Sejong) are being denied entry,” a representative from the Government Buildings Management Office stated, according to local media reports. “Orders have been issued to keep all gates, including the main entrance, firmly closed under any circumstances.

Dec. 4, 2024

Foreign minister convenes senior meeting on martial law

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has convened a senior officials' meeting concerning the declaration of martial law at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul. The announcement follows President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of emergency martial law during a surprise late-night TV address Tuesday. The emergency senior officials' meeting chaired by Cho commenced at 11:43 p.m. on Tuesday. A Foreign Ministry official in Seoul, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the min

Dec. 3, 2024

Justice Party lambasts Yoon's martial law declaration

In an emergency statement, the minor opposition Justice Party blasted Yoon's declaration of martial law, claiming that it breaches Article 77 of the country's Constitution. "President Yoon Suk Yeol must immediately withdraw the declaration of martial law. If not, the public will hold the president responsible for violating the Constitutional order. The Justice Party will never tolerate any actions that violate the Constitution," Kwon Young-guk, chief of the Justice Party, sai

Dec. 3, 2024

Full text of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's emergency martial law declaration

Below is the full translation of President Yoon Suk Yeol's statement issued on Tuesday, announcing the declaration of emergency martial law. The National Assembly has so far proposed 22 motions to impeach government officials since the inauguration of the administration, and since the launch of the 22nd National Assembly in June, it is pursuing the impeachment of its 10th individual. This is a situation that is unprecedented not only in any country in the world but also since the founding o

Dec. 3, 2024

'Is this happening in 2024?' South Koreans in panic, disbelief

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law Tuesday night, sending shock waves through the nation. Made near at 10:25 p.m., the announcement has left citizens and experts alike scrambling to understand its implications. According to South Korea’s Constitution and the Martial Law Act, emergency martial law can be declared during wartime, in cases of a major national emergency akin to war, or when public order is severely disrupted, rendering administrative and judici

Dec. 3, 2024

South Korea sees first martial law in over 40 years

Tuesday's declaration of martial law was the first by a South Korean president in over 40 years. South Korea has had a total of 17 martial law declarations so far since it was first imposed in Oct. 21, 1948. President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday declared martial law to “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and to protect the constitutional order of freedom." Yoon labeled the opposition as "anti-state activities plotting rebellion," in the emergency televised address. Interim

Dec. 3, 2024

Ruling party leader denounces Yoon's declaration of emergency martial law

Ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, calling the decision "wrong," in a statement released late Tuesday. He added that he plans to stop the president's move "alongside the people."

Dec. 3, 2024

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law

In an emergency address to the nation Tuesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in South Korea. Yoon said at around 10:20 p.m. that the declaration was made to prevent "anti-state forces" from depriving South Korean citizens of their freedom and happiness. "I will wipe out anti-state forces as soon as possible and normalize the country's operation," Yoon said in a televised briefing in his office, less than an hour before the martial law went into effect na

Dec. 3, 2024

PM says S. Korea, US likely to log biggest growths among advanced economies in 2025

South Korea and the United States are expected to produce the highest economic growth rates among major economies next year, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Tuesday. Han made the remarks during a press briefing, highlighting the global rating agencies' positive assessment of the Korean economy, including Goldman Sachs' recent outlook of a 1.8 percent growth for both countries. He said South Korea and the US are expected to grow the most among the advanced countries, followed by Britai

Dec. 3, 2024

Eyeing birthrate, Korea sets 70% target for fathers' parental leave

South Korea plans to encourage new fathers to take paternity leave for child care, aiming for a 70 percent usage rate by 2030, the government announced Tuesday. The percentage of men taking paternity leave to care for children stood at 6.8 percent, in the public sector and private sector combined, as of 2022. The Yoon Suk Yeol government aims to increase the rate to 50 percent by 2027, the final year of the administration, and to 70 percent three years later. The administration believes that its

Dec. 3, 2024

[Herald Interview] Why Hong Kong's foreign domestic worker policy shouldn't be model for Korea

While the 98 Filipina caregivers in Seoul city’s pilot program are protected under South Korea’s Labor Standards Act, Act on the Employment Improvement of Domestic Workers and statutory minimum wage, some government officials have been talking about making the project more like Hong Kong’s foreign domestic helper scheme. Some have said Korea should follow Hong Kong’s model and exclude foreign domestic workers from the minimum wage. Foreign caregivers here could be hired t

Dec. 3, 2024